Recently we were able to work with Cut Loose Hair Design on not only their branding, but their interior design as well. One of the biggest draws to their salon is that they are very family-friendly and wanted to encourage that in every part of their space.

Our inspiration for a waiting room with a large family style dining table was originally found here. Although they loved the idea, Cut Loose didn’t have the extra square footage to host such a large table. Instead, they shrunk the table size down to accommodate their space. The finished piece is a slender sized dining room table that functions great within their space, but also creates an inviting and relaxed client waiting area.

INSPIRATION:

We found several Table DIY’s as examples to help Cut Loose Hair Design visualize and create their own custom design.

Ultimately the final design was one Cut Loose customized to their personal tastes. We asked the maker Matt Yacko, the owners son-in-law, to share his final thoughts, creative process, and any tips that might help others looking to make a similar table.

Start with making the table top first: I identified where the structural supports needed to be which were close to the ends and then split equally across the middle.

Experiment with the arrangement of the boards before inserting the metal rods: Since all of the boards were slightly different in thickness or had a unique warping, each 4×4 had to be measured and marked so that the surface of the table would be as close to flat as possible.

Cut ½” threaded rod to the approximate desired width of the table: Make sure there is plenty of left over just in case! After drilling the first board, inserted the rods through the holes in order to line up the next 4×4.

Use decorative hardware on the sides of the table to cover up the rod holes and add additional support: I cut the ½” threaded rod so that it would sit just recessed inside the counter bored holes and then installed the hardware to secure the tabletop into one piece.

Assemble the entire table, stain the bottom, and add the casters while upside down: Flipping the table right-side-up is a task in itself, wait until you are completely finished and then use a friend!

Install the legs using a framing joint commonly found at your local hardware store: Afterwards, measure out the desired angle of the cross beams securing the legs lag bolts in countersunk holes.

Sand the bottom of the table with a heavy 40 grit belt sander: Legs are likely to touch this area but the finish is not as important because it will not be seen.

Lightly sand the top, side, and legs of the table to preserve it’s natural finish: I used 2 coats of medium-sheen gloss polyurethane to seal the wood and smooth the surfaces with a light 200 grit sanding in between coats.

It’s always fun seeing clients take your initial ideas and truly make them their own. Walking into the Cut Loose Salon, the table is such a fun focal point and is always filled up with people, coats, and crayons.

Regardless of if you are looking to create a similar table for a waiting room or for your actual dining room we hope you’ve found a good example to get your creative juices flowing!

Now start drawing up sketches on that napkin! Go a head. You can do it, and send us photos when you’ve finished your own Rustic Table DIY!

Thanks again Matt for providing the supplies list and how to instructions!

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I can’t tell you how excited I have been to share my latest homemade gift with you all! To be honest I was a bit overambitious last Christmas, and didn’t complete any of the FOUR projects I started (surly I’m not the only one… !?). This year I was determined to complete ALL my projects from last year, and I’m happy to announce that I reached my goal just in time for Christmas!

Tis true, me and Martha Stewart became besties this holiday season, and I couldn’t be any more happier with the results!

Once you plan out your portrait the cross-stitching isn’t that hard, but it does take time. Personally, I enjoyed spending my evenings with the tv off, bundled under a blanket, working away while Cale studied for his latest Architecture Exam. You might think of cross-stitching as an old lady sport, but it was really fun giving an old craft an updated design.

SUPPLIES:

Embroidery Hoop

Embroidery Thread(Just ask around and borrow some from your crafty friends if you don’t want to buy a bunch–thanks Courtney!)

Embroidery Needle

Embroidery Aida Cloth(I started with 22 count and the stitches were way to small and close together. Definitely aim for 11-14 count squares, or even 8 if you would like a bigger design.)

Select a Wider (smaller) Embroidery Aida Cloth Count: I started my first portrait with a 22 count and hated the whole process. The wider squares (11-14 count) show off fun details better, and you won’t be cussing as much as you try and poke your thread through tiny, TINY, little holes!

General Size/Scale Chart: 8 stitches across for adult heads, 7 stitches across for teen/kids heads, and 3 stitches across for babies.

Plan it Out: Use graph paper and colored pencils to plan out every detail. Having a solid plan creates a smooth transition once you start cross-stitching.

Customize each family member: I found the inspiration for this project sifting through an old subscription of Martha Stewart Living. Visit her page for ideas and suggestions on how to each person in your portrait their own unique style. Think about the person’s hair, the type of clothes they wear, and even fun accessories.

Use Back Stitching for Small Details: This simple technique allows you to create fine details like glasses, baby eye’s and mouth’s, letters, and numbers.

This was my first cross-stitch project so don’t feel intimidated if you have never done this before. I stitched two full portraits of the same family until I got the style, layout, and the scale just right.

You can do it! Old ladies unite!

What new Christmas projects did you take on this year? How did they turn out?

If you are on Pinterest at all I’m sure you’ve seen the DIY Mug Art craze. I’ve been pinning a few ideas and decided to give it a try for a special wedding gift. I found the white mugs at a thirft shop for $0.48 cents! Spring is always full of weddings so if you are looking for an inexpensive, quick (takes about an hour to create and about three hours to bake and completely cool), handmade gift look no further! This is definitely my new “go to” gift if I’m wanting to do something a little special.

MATERIALS:

Cup(s): Can be different shapes, sizes, and colors

Paper: To practice illustrating your design(s)

Sharpie: Can be black or try a colored sharpie on a white cup

Oven

Dish soap and Paper Towel: To erase mistakes before you bake

X-Acto Knife: For possible mistakes after you bake

HOW TO:

Practice illustrating the front and back designs on a piece of paper. Feel free to do a scripture or fun quote that relates to the couple. Look for ideas on Pinterest, the couple’s Facebook Page(s), their Wedding Invite, or visit their Wedding Website. Make sure you double check the correct spelling of the couple’s name(s) and wedding date. For mistakes (before you bake) wet a paper towel with dish soap and the sharpie should wipe off.

Pre-heat oven to 425

Place cups upside down on the rack and bake for 30 minutes.

DO NOT REMOVE. Turn off oven and let the cups stand and cool completely in the oven. If you find a mistake (after you bake) take an X-Acto and scrape the sharpie off. Re-do the sharpie and bake again for the full 30 minutes. There might be a slight smudge where you scrape the marker off but you should be able to wipe this off after it is baked. This method works best if you catch any mistakes while the cup is still hot!

Let us know how your mug designs come out! I’m already taking notes on ideas for other upcoming holidays like Father’s Day and Mother’s Day. It’s definitely a fun way to personalize a gift for someone you love.

This past Monday we took a little road trip and dropped off our first batch of concrete jewelry at Dwelling Spaces in Tulsa, OK. We have heard amazing things about this store and it’s owner, Mary Beth, but had no idea just how wonderful it was until we we’re able to visit in person. Not only is the store aesthetic eclectic and fun but it’s got all the heart and soul we could ever ask for from a store carrying our products.

We only spent 30 minutes with Mary Beth (and mostly that was us talking), but instantly we found a friend that loves pushing boundaries and is not afraid to take things to the next level. Her passion is truly contagious and something we hope you’ll support by checking out her wonderful store; Dwelling Spaces.

Sometimes in your marriage you have to think back and remember what it was like when you we’re dating. What were the things that you just did to say “I love you” and how can you apply those things to your relationship now? They may not come as natural as they once did but after a little soul searching you’ll remember the simple things you once did to make that special someone feel all warm and gooey inside.

I remember a time when I was really good at at this. I would send Cale cards and make cute “I love you” books. Yes, I know… cheesy but hey it’s what I loved to do! In my opinion there is nothing better than a handmade Valentine’s Day gift. I think it has something to do with my childhood memories of cutting hearts out of construction paper, decorating an old shoe box with glitter, and adding as much red, white, and pink as possible! Handmade gifts, although simple, take time and thought and that fellas can go a lot farther than a box of chocolates!

This year let that special someone know all the weird, cute and funny things you love about them by making a handmade gift.

To help you get you started think of the things about that person that made you fall in love with them… and then onto the weird, quirky and even serious things that you cherish about them today.

At Green Couch Design we have a sweet spot for love and ALL the sappy and gooey moments that come along with it. We’ve been working the last two years with concrete and just so happen to come across this fun little design just in time for Valentines Day. Enjoy!

These boys look like a lot of trouble + a lot of fun! Meet the guys behind Wood Thumb. Located in San Francisco their start-up company uses recycled wood to make wooden ties. A unique spin on the term “business casual” each piece is handmade and a modern spin on the old neck strangler.

Since our wedding Cale and I have had a “thing” for balloons. We love their free spirits and the whimsical feel that they can bring to any occasion. At our wedding reception we had giant 4 ft x 4 ft round white balloons at each of the tables and they created the perfect canopy for our outdoor wedding. Since then we can’t help but be a little bit obsessed with balloons and simply fell in love with our latest Everyday Design artist group who created and documented their handmade balloons in their “Balloon Factory”.

The holidays were such a busy time for us that we are just now getting to share one of our recent graphic design projects! It’s not very often you get to work on a branding project where the client encourages you to get lost inside your imagination… but that’s exactly what we got to do! Looking for a brand that was a bit softer than “Where the Wild Things Are” and a little less psychedelic than “Alison in Wonderland” The Wonder Revolution pushed us out of our standard design box and forced us to look closer at our day to day world with a new and wonderful perspective.

“The wonder revolution is a call to re-awaken and cultivate a child-like mind set of wonder. As adults we lose our desire of Investigation, imagination, and creation to life’s daily problems, practical thinking, drama, jobs, ideologies, cultures, egos, fears, etc. We are taught through culture, society, and education to see life as a set of abstractions and therefore we miss the miraculous Wonderworld that surrounds us.” - The Wonder Revolution

The Wonder Revolution is a group of friends, through Air House Records, creating original music and art that inspires an attitude of awe and wonder towards life. A conceptual, organic, idea The Wonder Revolution can take any form. It is uplifting, a new genre of music, and style with it’s own Wondermusic and Wonderart inspiring live, multi-medium music/art shows with music, books, merchandise, film, products, etc.

It’s getting to be that time of year where things are starting to pile up and you remember that one person you forgot to get something for?! We’ll, no worries, we’ve got you covered! We’ve got great gifts for those hard to buy for neighbors or office mates. Try one of our tea towels, can’t go wrong, or aprons. Their a guaranteed hit for even the scroogiest of types.

We’re offering FREE shipping this weekend only. If you order in the next three days we can guarantee Christmas delivery!